Cleaning device



H. MILLER ETAL 2,871,497

CLEANING DEVICE Feb. 3, 1959` Filed Jan. 15, 1957 Z; W71?. Z l

ZjpsT/c Spa/V55, INVENTORS- CLEANHNG DEVICE Harold Miller and HarryKrigsrnan, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application anuary 15, 1957, Serial No. 634,310

z claims. (ci. 1s-24a This invention relates to hand cleaning devicesand, more particularly, to a device that may be used to wash especiallynarrow crevices and areas.

While various types of brushes have been provided that may be used toclean restricted areas, these brushes are not particularly useful forwashing those areas. An object of this invention therefore is to providea cleaning devicel that is simple in construction, eicient` inoperation, and which may be used to wash and clean narrow and restrictedspaces that are otherwise difcult to reach with conventional washingapparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplev cleaning devicein which the cleaning element may be removed from the supportingstructure and independently washed during use and which may bemanufactured in large quantities at relatively low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and ad vantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device made in accordance with thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View taken along line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; v

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing the device in operative use; and

Figure 5 is a perspective View showing the manner in which the cleaningelement is removed and cleaned independently of the supportingstructure.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, a device made inaccordance withr the present invention is shown to include a main bodyportion that includes an elongated at body 12 which may be of wood orplastic construction. Substantially one half of the body portion isenclosed within a water repellent handle sheath 14 that is preferablyconstructed of a pair of similar sheets of plastic that are welded alongtheir adjacent edges to provide sealed seams 16 that prevent theentrance of moisture. The outer end of the handle sheath 14 is providedwith a closed triangular tab 18 that includes an eyelet 19 from whichthe device may be supported from a suitable hanger. The inner end of thesheath is secured to the body portion, such as by a staple 17 thatprevents the disassembly of the parts.

The cleaning element is in the form of a cleaning sheath 21, that ispreferably constructed of a sheet of urethane ice foam that is foldedalong the central longitudinal axis so that the opposite lateral edgesthereof can bel secured together, such as by stitching 24. One end 22 ofthe sheath is closed and the opposite inner end 23 is open so as toreceive the other half of the main body portion 12. With the partsassembled, as shown in Figure 1, a fastening means, such as an elasticband 26 is used to secure the inner, open end 23 of the cleaning sheath21 in close l tting, securing, engagement with the mid-section of theelongated at body 12 and in overlapping engagement with the inner end ofthe handle sheath 14.

In using the device, as shown in Figure 4, the handle is grasped in thehand and the cleaning sheath 21 may be inserted in the narrow openingsof any stationary' object 30. The cleaning sheath may then be cleanedbyl removing the elastic band 26 and withdrawing the sheath from themain body portion so that it may be washed, as shown in Figure 5. Whennot in use, the device may be suspended from any suitable hanger, suchas a nail 32, in which position it may dry so that it is always readyfor use.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to thespecific form shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

- Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. A cleaning device comprising, in combination, an elongated bodyportion of substantially uniform rectangular cross section, a tubularWater repellent handle sheath enclosing one extremity of said `bodyportion, a cleaning sheath of sponge material removably secured to theopposite extremity of said body portion, said sponge sheath Ioverlappingpart of said handle sheath, removable fastening means securing saidsponge sheath in assembled posi tion with said body portion relative tosaid handle sheath, the outer end of said handle sheath including atriangular tab, and said tab being provided with means for supportingsaid device in a vertical hanging position, said sponge sheathcomprising a rectangular sheet of sponge material folded along a centrallongitudinal axis and having the opposite lateral extremities thereofsecured together, and said sponge sheath being open at one end andclosed at the opposite end.

2. A cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said removablefastening means comprises an elastic band.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 36,600Boeckh Oct. 7, 1862 810,708 Brister Ian. 23, 1906 1,791,218 MallinckrodtFeb. 3, 1931 1,899,242 McNab Feb. 28, 1933 2,062,065 Miley Not/.24, 19362,237,969 Olsen Apr. 8, 1941 2,555,858 Oleksy June 5, 1951 2,578,183Furst Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 73,552 Norway May 31, 1948.*

507,633 Germany Sept. 18, 1930

